Betty Taylor to hit street party stage

RISING indie band Betty Taylor will play the Tweed for the first time when they headline the second annual Tweed Regional Museum Street Party.

The all-female group has rocketed from obscurity to an emerging act to watch after signing with artist development label Hello Gardener in late 2022.

From an open mic at a backyard show to more than three million streams and a rapidly growing international fan base, the band’s trajectory is gathering steam after releasing its debut recording, Young Dumb Immature.

The EP sparked significant airplay in the US, leading to an official showcase at SXSW 2025 in Texas.

“It was amazing, just crazy,” said lead singer Sophie Patrick of the experience.

“We spent five days running around Austin, seeing so much live music and playing a bunch of shows ourselves at crazy times: some would be at 4pm, some would be at 12.30am.

“It was full on, but it was the best, and we met so many unreal people that we have stayed connected with, which is really exciting.”

A relative latecomer to music, the teenage Patrick gravitated towards the guitar as a result of a ban on lessons.

“When I was about 17, my brothers had lessons, so there were guitars around the house,” she said.

“I did other extracurricular activities, but I wasn’t allowed to have guitar lessons as well.

“So, I’d steal my brother’s guitar when he was working and practice in secret with YouTube, and I did that for about a year.

“Then, for my 18th birthday, I asked for a guitar, which I got, but everyone was really confused when I could actually play it.”

As for the band’s name, its genesis holds a touching tribute.

“I had a Taylor guitar when the band started, just an acoustic, and I was like, that’s my grandma’s maiden name, so we became Betty Taylor,” Patrick said.

“It was meant to be temporary, and then it was cool, and so it stuck. My grandma loves it.”

Betty Taylor plays the Tweed Museum Street Party on Saturday, September 6, at 8pm.

For information, visit museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au